Over 100,000 Gather in St. Peters Square for Angelus Address

VATICAN CITY, October 07, 2013 (Zenit.org) – The Holy Father addressed over 100,000 pilgrims gathered at St. Peter’s Square to listen to his weekly Angelus address on Sunday.

Reflecting on his recent trip to Assisi, Pope Francis began his address thanking God for his visit. “Understand that this was the first time that I went to Assisi and it was a great gift to make this pilgrimage on the feast of St. Francis. I thank the people of Assisi for their warm reception,” he said.

Regarding the Sunday Gospel, in which the disciples ask Christ to increase their faith, the Holy Father said that Jesus’ reply indicates that though one’s faith may be small, it is enough to achieve the impossible.

“We all know people who are simple, humble, but with an incredibly strong faith, who truly move mountains!” the Pope exclaimed. “Think, for example, of certain [mothers] and [fathers] who face very hard situations; or certain sick people, even gravely sick people, who convey serenity to those who visit them.”

“These people, precisely because of their faith, do not boast about what they do, rather, as Jesus asks in the Gospel, they say: ‘We are useless servants. We have done what we were supposed to do’. How many people among us have this strong, humble faith and do so much good!”

Pope Francis also cited the example of missionaries around the world who give their life for the Gospel everyday. Each Christian are also called to bear witness to Christ, he reminded the faithful, adding that the power of faith is strong even if it is small.

“With this strength bear witness to Jesus Christ, be Christians with your life, with our witness!” the Holy Father exhorted the faithful.

Concluding his address, the Holy Father told the 100,000 pilgrims that the true source of this strength comes from prayer, which he called “the breath of faith.” Reminding the faithful that October is the month of the Rosary, Pope Francis invited them to pray to Our Lady of Pompeii and “join spiritually in this act of confidence in our Mother.”